USING THE HACKATHON ECOSYSTEM FOR SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL INTEGRATION OF YOUTH IN THE FRAMEWORKS OF STRUCTURAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE

Abstract

This article tackles a wide range of issues related to social and professional adaptation of youth in the context of structural and social transformations. It is observed that currently, the employment and occupation challenges remain are among the most critical objectives to be attained and need to be resolved as soon as possible. It is argued that the objective reality of modern social relations is the constantly changing labor market environment; moreover, the current situation in the employment sector significantly complicates the situation for young people. In particular, it is emphasized that the labor market puts young professionals in the system of fierce competition with professionals who already have work experience. Ultimately, transformations in various fields – social, economic and political system of fierce competition – have caused a decline in the social value of labor for many young people that has resulted in moral degradation and triggered social pessimism – a disbelief that they will be ever able to get an interesting job that is paid fairly which translates into polarization between effort and wages, which in fact often differ. A survey of graduates conducted in the frameworks of the University Hackathon Ecosystem has revealed the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of future professionals and their ability to integrate into the social environment. Processing of research outcomes using the tools of mathematical statistics to obtain values with estimated availability and reliability has demonstrated the validity of the developed favourable organizational and pedagogical environment in the university. In this context, consistent implementation of this organisational and pedagogical paradigm ensures the highest effectiveness of adaptation to professional activities based on education values as well as social integration readiness. The proposed model of promoting professional partnership-based adaptation of students between the university and social institutions and organizations characterizes the pre-working period of educational and professional adaptation. It is assumed that enhancing the students’ adaptation to professional career will help would be professionals find confidence in their abilities and become competitive in the labor market, reinforcing new values of professional self-development and professional development, and facilitate further integration into society. It is argued that the use of traditional labor socialization methods is not always sufficient to attain relevant professional maturity which is associated with different character and motivation to professional activity. The findings verify that some young people are engaged in non-professional activities, some work in the profession but do not seek to develop their professional skills, there are also cases of discrimination against young people by the older generation which refer to professional growth opportunities. An experiment based on the University Hackathon Ecosystem provides argument that the professional socialization of individuals assumes a certain time period to enter the professional environment, gain professional experience, master the standards and values of the professional community, as well as the process of accumulation and active implementation of personal professional experience.